. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/110 
7 December 2010 
 (10-6585) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
IEC ACTIVITIES IN DEVELOPING CO UNTRIES  (JUNE  – OCTOBER 2010) 
 
Update provided by the IEC
 
  
 The following information was provided by the IEC
 (International Electrotechnical 
Commission) at the TBT Committee meeting of 3-4 November 2010.   
 
_______________ 
 
 
1. The IEC1 is the world leading organization that prepares and publishes International 
Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies – collectively known as 
"electrotechnology".  The IEC also administers three global conformity assessment systems, IECEE2, 
IECEx3 and IECQ4, for testing, certification and approval of equipment, systems, components and in 
selected areas services and personnel to its International Standards. 
I. IEC MEMBERSHIP EXPANDS IN AFRICA 
2. In late July 2010, Morocco became the IEC's 81st member, joining a growing community of 
162 countries involved in electrotechnical standardization. 
3. Morocco follows in the steps of  several African countries that have become Full or Associate 
Members of the IEC.  These include Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia. 
4. The electrotechnical interests of Morocco in the IEC are represented by COMELEC, the new 
Moroccan IEC NC (National Committee).  The NC is made up of a balanced mix of representatives from power generation and distribution authorities, manufacturers, R&D (research and development) 
establishments, academia, testing laboratories, c onsumer associations and various governmental 
bodies concerned with electrical and electronic applications. 
5. As an Associate Member, Morocco may ob serve the Council, SMB (Standardization 
Management Board) and CAB (Conformity Assessm ent Board) meetings during the IEC General 
Meeting. Furthermore, Morocco has access rights a nd can comment on IEC technical documents and 
has the possibility to participate in up to f our IEC technical committees and subcommittees as a 
Participating member (P-member), with the obligati on to vote on the relevant committee's technical 
work. 
                                                     
 
1 http://www.iec.ch/  
2 http://www.iecee.org/  
3 http://www.iecex.com/  
4 http://www.iecq.org/  G/TBT/GEN/110 
Page 2  
 
  II. IEC INDUSTRIALIZING COUNTRY WORKSHOP ON PERFORMANCE AND 
SAFETY OF HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES 
6. The IEC organized a Workshop for over 100 participants representing 52 developing and 
newly industrialized countries during its 74
th General Meeting held in Seattle, USA, from 11-15 
October 2010.  This year's event focussed on the performance and safety of household electrical 
appliances, and the International Standards from two of IEC's most prolific technical committees, IEC 
TC 595: Performance of household and similar electrical appliances, and IEC TC 616: Safety of 
household and similar electrical appliances.  The Workshop examined the international Conformity 
Assessment solutions available under the IECEE (the IEC System of Conformity Assessment 
Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Comp onents). Ensuring performance and safe use of 
electrical domestic appliances is often critical fo r the developing world. Presentations from Ghana7, 
Peru 8and Nigeria9 showed how developing countries face this challenge. 
III. IEC PAPERS ON SMART ENERGY 
7. The IEC Market Strategy Board10, which comprises high-level executives from industry, has 
prepared two documents on Smart Electrification .  They map out global energy needs and potential 
solutions and the IEC's role in meeting the challenges. 
8. The 75-page IEC White Paper  provides a comprehensive insight into how existing and future 
electrotechnologies could meet global energy needs in the next 30 years.  It emphasizes that a systems 
approach to standardization will be critical in meeting these needs. 
9. The IEC Summary and Recommendations  on smart electrification highlights the strategic 
importance of electricity and how this clean, effici ent form of energy will satisfy growing worldwide 
demand, both in developed and deve loping countries.  The document11 can be downloaded in 10 
languages. 
__________  
                                                      
5 http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f?p=102:7:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:1275  
6 http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f?p=102:7:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:1236  
7 http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f? p=102:11:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:1080  
8 http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f? p=102:11:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:1122  
9 http://www.iec.ch/dyn/www/f? p=102:16:0::::FSP_ORG_ID:1114  
10 http://www.iec.ch/a bout/struct-e.htm  
11 http://www.iec.ch/smartenerg y/pdf/summary_lres-e.pdf